Anybody else read this book by Richard Matheson? If you have not, I highly recommend it. It is a fairly short book, but impressively written and played out. From the opening line to the final words, this is one of the few books I consider perfect. Perhaps the one thing about it I did not like was the fact that it had to end, but on the other hand its brevity has a certian charm to it. When I first read this book it reminded me why I liked science fiction in the first place.
This book has been adapted to the big screen twice already. Once with Vincent Price in a film called Last Man on Earth and a second time as The Omega Man with Charlton Heston. Right now they are in the process of filming a third adaption of the novel, this time bearing the actual name of the book. For someone like me who enjoyed both previous movie adaptions (but each for very different reasons) this is exciting news. Or, it was, until I found out it would be staring Will Smith. Now I am expecting I, Robot with vampires. I can already hear the line "Oh hell no! You did NOT just stick yo ugly ass demon fangs through my leather jacket!"
Just wondering what some of your takes were on this? I can't imagine I am the only one here who has read the book and seen the other two films. Anybody excited about this one? Or like me just afraid this will be another "bad ass" Will Smith action flick?
"Every time Warb sighs, an angel falls into a vat of mapel syrup." - Gaffer Tape
Well, that's the problem--just because it's a perfect book in your mind, doesn't mean a direct movie adaptation would be perfectly marketable. We're talking about the same consuming public that says "Twilight Princess" is a far superior game to "The Wind Waker" simply because the latter has a cartoony art style.
Naturally you will never have a film adaption of a book be completely accurate. I am not expecting a perfect film. Neither of the previous two films were perfect, but they were not bad (well, Omega Man was pretty bad, but that is what made it good). I just find it sad a book that has been so influential in its genre like I Am Legend has (it has been the primary influence to the hoards of undead zombie/vampire films, ranging from Night of the Living Dead to 28 Days Later) gets treated the same as a hot today forgotten tomorrow NY Times bestseller.
I think the movie would sell just fine if they kept it close to the book. Who doesn't want to see a movie about the only man left on the face of the earth who has not been transformed into a blood drinking nightwalker by some strange epidemic? Besides, people are nuts about the vampire genre. Of course a film featuring endless hoards of vampires will sell, Smith or no Smith. It is sad to think Hollywood doesn't believe a movie can sell without big Hollywood names. I most definately don't have my hopes up.
"Every time Warb sighs, an angel falls into a vat of mapel syrup." - Gaffer Tape
That's enough of Will Smith, he's a tired old cheeseball. Night Heat / Angel Nights looks way better than this. It's from the same people that made All American Grandpa and Gay! Cop! Mustache!
Originally posted by: C3PX Low quality youtube version for people with extremely slow internet connections (such as I have in my current situation): I Am Legend trailer
Looks good to me as far as trailers go. Will Smith is a good guy can be a good actor. Though to be honest I haven't watched any of the movies where he had a serious role.
Perfect book though? Why is it so good in your mind? Based on that trailer I'm assuming the story takes a sci-fi turn by the end?
"Now all Lucas has to do is make a cgi version of himself. It will be better than the original and fit his original vision." - skyjedi2005
I would've been against casting Will Smith in the role, but after seeing "Pursuit of Happyness", I think he might do well. That movie showed me that he could play another character other than himself.
Originally posted by: Tiptup Perfect book though? Why is it so good in your mind? Based on that trailer I'm assuming the story takes a sci-fi turn by the end?
I find it strange you ask that question when you would have clearly had to have read my first post to have read that I consider it perfect. Just in case you didn't quite get what I said, I shall quote myself. "It is a fairly short book, but impressively written and played out. From the opening line to the final words, this is one of the few books I consider perfect. Perhaps the one thing about it I did not like was the fact that it had to end, but on the other hand its brevity has a certian charm to it. When I first read this book it reminded me why I liked science fiction in the first place."
And obviously since I mentioned it being a sci-fi book and a vampire novel, yes, it does take a sci-fi turn but not by the end, by the very beginning. In fact it does not so much take a sci-fi turn as it actually is sci-fi through and though.
If you think I am exaggerating on how good this book is, take a peek at amazon.coms user reviews of the book, the vast majority of them are a full five stars. This book was written in the fifties and it for all practical purposes the father of the survival horror genre. As I said in my second post of this thread, it has influenced zombie/vampire films from Night of the Living Dead all the way to 28 Days Later. Its a good book.
"Every time Warb sighs, an angel falls into a vat of mapel syrup." - Gaffer Tape
Originally posted by: C3PX When I first read this book it reminded me why I liked science fiction in the first place.
Ahh, I had missed that part about sci-fi. (I skimmed.) Vampires too, eh? Sci-fi and Vampires reminds me of Vampire Hunter D. (I love that old anime.) I think I'll definitely look into this book.
"Now all Lucas has to do is make a cgi version of himself. It will be better than the original and fit his original vision." - skyjedi2005
Matheson (the writer of I Am Legend) actually tries to demythologize the vampire by allowing his character to theorize that the germ which has just wiped out the entire popularion of the world is the same responsible for the creation of the vampire myth. So the book learns towards the scientific aspect of the vampire rather than the supernatural.
I am no fan of the vampire genre, but this is one of my favorite books. My favorite aspect of it is the idea of being the last man alive, which is a really frightening idea. That is one thing I liked about the trailer, I loved the scenes of New York over grown with plant life.
"Every time Warb sighs, an angel falls into a vat of mapel syrup." - Gaffer Tape
